US, South Korea say North Korean satellite launch fails

Seoul/Washington, April 5 (DPA) Media reports in the US and South Korea said Sunday that North Korea had failed to place a satellite into orbit with its rocket launching earlier in the day. The news network CNN, citing the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), reported that the North Korean satellite failed to achieve orbit.

Earlier in Seoul, the news agency Yonhap cited the South Korean presidential office as saying that the satellite lauch was unsuccessful.

North Korea, via its state-controlled media, had claimed the rocket had succeeded in putting a satellite into orbit and that the satellite was functioning smoothly.